US State Seeks to Confiscate $24 Million in Dark Web Bitcoin

The crackdown of vendors on darkweb marketplaces lets the U.S. government seize 4,000 bitcoins and now it wants to confiscate all of them.

AccessTimeIconJun 27, 2018 at 8:01 a.m. UTC
Updated Sep 13, 2021 at 8:06 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

The U.S. government is seeking to forfeit 4,000 bitcoins that were seized during a crackdown of vendors on darkweb marketplaces - an amount that worth over $24 million as of press time.

According to an announcement published by the Department of Justice for the District of Maryland on Tuesday, the prosecutors indicted two men, Ryan Farace and Robert Swain, both residents of the state who allegedly manufactured drugs and distributed them through darkweb marketplaces.

The accused were further alleged to have collected proceeds from drug sales in bitcoin between November 2013 and June 2017, which were seized by law enforcements.

"As part of the indictment, the government seeks the forfeiture of no less than $5,665,000, plus the value of 4,000 bitcoin believed to be the proceeds of the illegal drug sales," the prosecutors said in the announcement.

The request, if approved, would mark the latest addition to the existing pool of cryptocurrencies confiscated by the U.S. government, which could be subject to further auction into the market.

This is not the first time that U.S. authorities have seized bitcoins (or other cryptocurrencies) during a darkweb crackdown. Notably, the U.S. government forfeited bitcoins from the founder of the defunct darkweb marketplace Silk Road and subsequently auctioned 80,000 bitcoins from 2013 to 2014.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Marshals Service also held an auction of more than 3,800 bitcoins (worth $51 million) – the first since the sale of 2,700 bitcoins in 2016.

Meanwhile, in another indictment in March, the U.S. government was also looking to confiscate 500 bitcoins after charging four individuals for creating fake identification documents.

Bitcoin image via Shutterstock

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.